Ultra high frequency apparatus



JUIYZ, 1946. M. R. RICHMOND ULTRA-HIGH FREQUENCY APPARATUS leaf/rseFiled Feb. 25., 1943 THA/M/rf lllllllllllllllll s s s s s g i KEYS? e We mfr. f6 ew M www r l@ s L@ w E w. M m mm n l'mventor (ttomeg PatentedJuly 2, 1946 oFF UTRA men: FREQUENCY APPARATUS Martin'R. Richmond;Brooklyn, N.v Y.Y,v,assign'o1. to Radici Corporation. of America, a`corporation.

of. Delaware 9l claims. l

This' invention'` relates generally.' to. ultrafhigh.

frequency apparatusandlmore particularly' toduiplexswitching` apparatus.for controlling. simuls taneouslv separate power" and; signal circuits'applied to dinerent components. of. 'a communica.- tfion' system.

. In ultra-high frequency communication systems itisoftenfdesirabletocontrol simultaneously the application. of potentials derivedy ironiapower source to' asignalI generator and tuY isolate; selectivelya;receiver from a signal source.. Due tof-the pcculiaritiesainherentiniultra-highirequency apparatus..conventionalswitching means` areseldomentirely satisfactorydueto undesiredreactive com'- ponents Whichare;thus. introduced into therassociatedv circuits; The instant. invention.contemplates the use of; a. current. discharge dev-ice which may bekeyed to.l provide a. conductive. path for connecting the' power source:tol the signal. generator while' simultaneously` presenting. an. open:circuit to the signal path between the received.

signal source and: `the signal. receiver. Various? modication'szof theinvention willibevdescribedl in. detail hereinafter. However;1 allinvolve. the com-v mon :feature: of providing: simultaneous control: of.a current discharge path'. and*` a; wave. ltransmis-- sion. path, suchas', for example,.a wave guide yor a resonant;chamber;` This feature:permits higherA power control. since itsubstamtially eliminates'the:power surge, :or: spike' transmission pathY when the. wave pathalone;keyedl.. .Other modications of the invention. are: disclo'sed andclaimed. in. applicants copending. app'licati'orrSerial.` No.; 508,332",iiled October' V30,. m43, :as faidivisiona ofthefinstanti application.

' Among. theobjectsof thezinventionare tos providera newandmpmvedgmethodi of .andim'eans for: providing simultaneousswitch-ingiof aapower: sourceanctawave transmission path. .Anotherobject. ofcthe; inventionais tol provide/ansimprovedi method: ot and..means forx providing: 1a.- duplex' intra-high;y frequency switching`device."Y which comprises a current: discharge path.r for: a apowersource and a wave attenuator tor a signal: source.. Another object of)thei invention ist'o provide. an: improvedmethod or andi-meansiorcontrolling simultaneously .thel conductivity of azpower translmissioncircuit and' the attenuation off-ani ultrahighl frequency.iwave;y transmission circuit. Stillf another object of the invention isAtol provide an improved method of.' and means for-'controllingsimultaneously a powerj circuit and. av wave trans mission circuit-`through a dielectricv Vwave guide. A Still another object oftheinventiontopro-f sirr'iinprovect method of and?means-i0124 conintroduced.. into:the.' wave:

completed. throughithe switch 321:0

l 'a portion of the-"wave 2'. trolling a power circuit quencywavetra-usmission: circuit through circad-y nant chamber. by,y providing: acurrent. discharge;

Withinsaid chamber tovaryfthe'impedance of at the operating frequency..

The invention will. be: described in. greater de-v tail byA reference:to'.- the: accompanying drawing of: which. Figure 1. isia block agrarioof. oneiembodb. ment. of the invention; tional:- view or arr.embodiment-f of` the. invention; Figure:` 3l is a` cross-sectional. viewalong; theilinef AA of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a cross-sectiontlz,`

view of. a. modioation of invention..l

referencev numerals are: applied, to= merits: throughout the. drawing:Vy

Referring' to; Figure 1-, a transmitter I# is sun plied'wit'h` operatingpotential' from atransmittbiz power source. 2; through. a. duplexiswitching dei.`

vicei 3i of. any of the types to bedescribed'imdez tail hereinafter. Anantenna; or other. Signal'. source; 4i is connected; tofthef. inputof awave.- transmission circuit 5: su'cliras,for examplegmm wave guide or'a, coaxial transmission line. mier wave transmission', circuit. 5y alsois connected. through: the duplex switchingY device 3 to` a nai.responsive device such. as` a. radio receiversv is A source ofi keying(pulses 'lf is connected. tos-the; duplex switching. device; 3... When.a; keying' pulse from thee keying source 'lf isapplie'df. to thejduplex: switch- 3;.the power circuit from the power. sourcev mitten I1.Simultaneously, the wave transmission circuit:y 5 iseiectivelv.interrupted to isolate the? receiver ii' fromthefzsignalisourceell; .Durinxi intervals between. keyingf pulses! fromthe-#kever circuit '1, the poweroircuit from the transmitter? power.source 24 to thee transmitter l; isfintermpted' at .the switcli'e.while' the wave transmissiomciza. cuitlthroughthe transmission. line 5ris completed from: the: signal source; 4f toa-the signalreceiver if.'

ing; a'.- projection. .6i extending: transversely amsn path. The waveguide is entirelyenclosediwithin an evacuatedf envelope Il.. Oppositethe. projection: it iis; ar secomkpmjection'e 8-comprising; a'A cathode;surface. which is heated` i by: a: heater winding' 9".. A. grid'element: lili fist diri-iV posed in'- th'e aperture formed in thegindeibetweem the.:` cathode 8. and the: projection. 6. Separate leadsare broughtj out; through seals fortha,oath.-` ode; heater-,.-grid-anclfwave. guide elemen It should bev understood .that the devicejustdescribed' consti-tutes a: thermionic discharge tube* in which theprojectionl @represents theanode of the" tube. The shape 'oftheaperture-formed and an. ultra-high.- im

Figure 2 is a: cross-seclfrequency current l rent discharge path onantaperture formed.. thereby. I resonance effectively .blocks ,wavetransmission throughfthewave guidazwmie it also; provides ,a u thecathode 8 to the anode. 6' .which maybe.. utilized. for the transmissionof 2 vto the transmitg conductive path from l terlxl..A M.

derstood .that the envelope. Illu may befevacuated toiforma vacuum typether...

. closelyas'possible tothe .tured elements 3l, 32 mayv the desiredselectivity. in thetuning ofthe res- .477,176'fi1edieb1o1ery 2.5, 1945.Cepaeitive 818.--, 3` are 'disposed adjacent ,the supports lments I2,y

of the gridll'jto bypass'"effectively` the ultra-high components inducedtherein. In operation, if negatively with respect toV the 4cathode 8,and the anode 6 is positive with respect to the potential on the cathode8, substantiallynoelectron ldischarge will occur across thegap formedb'etween the cathode and anode. Since the aperture is resonant atquency, it provides an Vefficient transferV path the grid electrode Ilis biased should be understood that the wave transmission path isthrough the particular wave transmission device described, while thepower transmission path is between the cathode and anode or currentdischarge electrodes. It should also be understood that in each of themodifications described, the occurrence of a current discharge,whethermel'ctrfonic or i'riicjffwill ,provida conductingpatl'whichwillcomplete:'the circuit between the power sourceand thetransmitter, while Vsimultaneously effectively blockingthe transmission.ot

signal waves through the device from the signal source tothe 'signalreceiver.

is Y

the wave f transmission ,fre.. A

`through the wave guide for waves introducedI However.. if a positivepothe g'ridelectrode Il, such into the wave guide. l tential Y isapplied.` .to i asf'keying pulses occurs across .the gap between i theYcathode 8 :and-.the anodezl which effectively L changes theresonantcharacteristics of' the respowerlf'from fthe power source 2Itishould mionic tubewithin-.thewave guide, or: it `may be filled withlan `inert charge1tube..: .If the tube.just-,described is of thevacuumztypaaeffectivekeying of anytype of trans.. be accomplished .by

mitterI power source may .means `ofpositive keyingpulses derived fromthekeyer circuit '1,providing is; applied to .the thusl .formed is Vof mayonly bekeyedy pulses; .and .interruption `of the Thyratron type, thecircuit onby the positive keying the discharge .-pathi must; be'`accomplished byy reducing. the .positive potentialapplied to the anode6. Such a condi-l tion=,will prevail if the transmitter power source.providesV valternating potentials .or` pulsating po--JI fromthekeyer-circuit-1,` a cur-Y,

`gas at `low. pressure to pro-` videsaftube ofv theThyratron type ofgaseous dis-` a normal` negative bias 3 grid. lli :'However, if the tube.This change in i Thus the-'invention described comprises new andimproved methods of and means for switching simultaneously=a powercircuit and a wave transmission` circuit in response to pulses deriveddischarge. switching device comprising means pro-- viding a wavetransmission path for coupling said signal source to saidsignalresponsive device and providing. a .current dis;

means for selectively charge transversely of .said wave transmissionpath, and means .for .initiating aV current .discharge -within saidrdevice rfor applying said op-` erating potential` to-said signalgenerator and .eff ectively isolating vsaid. signal .responsive `devicefrom .said signal source, and for -alternately.. Vquenchingsaid currentdischarge thus .effectively isolating said signal generator .fromvsaidpoten:

tial .source and effectively. coupling said signal're-A sponsive deviceto said signal source.

tentialszof varying .voltage between .somepredetermined maximum andzerovalue. Preferably, the endsv` of thewaveguide 5 shouldextend as nantf.cavity1 40 .whichincludes ythe currentdischarge device. .consisting .ofthe anode 6, the. grid Il:and the .cathode 8. Capaciti've elements I2-Y' and-|13 mayaalso beemployed tobypass ultra-high vfrequency L currentsinducedv in the grid electrode y, l'|;;Z'IAi current .dischargeoccurring withinthe resonantf'cavity 4U will changethe. resonantcharacteristicsV thereof to provide a circuit of extremely. .thighimpedance. to waves offthe signal. frequency. ...The size. ofthe,apertures in the vaperbe selected to provide onantcavity `lili, as.described in the `copendingap-A.

plcation'mentioned heret-ofore.v i

l i Ing-.al1 ...or :.thei.. devices described.; heretofore,

envelope I0 `in order that;

it' e.

' signal source, and for V2. In a systemv of the type including a vradiotransmitter, a radio receiver, a source of operat; ing potential forsaid transmitter, and .a signal source'for said receiver;v theimprovement com.. prising a duplex currentdischarge switching devicecomprising. Imeans providing `al wave trans-l mission path Afor couplingvsaid signal sourceto. n

providing said receiver and means for selectively a current discharge.transversely .of-said wave transmission'path, and means for initiating.Ya current dischargeV within. said device vfor apply-y ing said operating'potential toV said transmitter and.eectivelyzisolating said receiver.from said alternately quenching said' current dischargethus eiectivelyisolatingisaid transmitterv from said potential source and eiec. tivelyYcoupling saidreceiver to said signal source. 3.1111 a system of the typeincluding. a radio transmitter, a ra'dioreceiver, a source of operataVing: potential for said transmitter, and a .signal sourcev for saidreceiver, the improvement. c0111. prising. a duplexelectrondischargeswitchingzde., vice..'comprsng means providing.: aVVsignal Ywave transmission pathiforfcoupling saidsignal source to saidreceiver and means forselectivelyformingacurrent discharge path.transversely across said signal wave transmission pathto. effectivelyblock said signaltransmissiom and meansforini-i tiating a current`discharge n.- said device: for -ap-f. plying said operating potential tosaid transmite ter and effectively isolating .said Y receiveniroxn saidsignal source, vand alternately forequenching said-current discharge insaid devcethusetfec: tively isolating said transmitter; from,.said.;p0.tential sourcev and effectively couplingsaidre-f, ceiver. to said signalsource.: 3 xr. ..;'1.1.,

.4.111 asystem .of the. type mamelles-.asiatici generator, a signalresponsive device, a source of operating potential for said signalgenerator, and a signal source for said signal responsive device, theimprovement comprising a duplex current discharge device comprising aresonant chamber for coupling said signal source to said signalresponsive device, and means for selectively forming a current dischargewithin said resonant chamber to vary the resonant frequency of saidchamber, and means for initiating said current discharge within saiddevice for applying said operating potential to said signal generatorand effectively isolating said signal responsive device from said signalsource, and alternately for quenching said current discharge thuseffectively isolating said signal generator from said potential sourceand effectively coupling said signal responsive device to said signalsource.

5. In a duplex current discharge switching device in combination with asignal generator, a signal responsive device, a source of operatingpotential for said signal generator and a signal source for said signalresponsive device, the method comprising establishing a currentdischarge within said device, utilizing said current discharge forapplying said operating potential to said signal generator andeffectively isolating said signal responsive device from said signalsource, and alternately quenching said current discharge thuseffectively isolating said signal generator from said potential sourceand effectively coupling said signal responsive device to said signalsource.

6. In a duplex current discharge switching device in combination with asignal generator, a signal responsive device, a source of operatingpotential for said signal generator and a signal source for said signalresponsive device, the method comprising keying said device forestablishing a current discharge within saidr device, utilizing saidcurrent discharge for applying said operating potential to said signalgenerator and effectively isolating said signal responsive device fromsaid signal source, and alternately quenching said current dischargethus effectively isolating said signal generator from said potentialsource and effectively coupling said signal responsive device to saidsignal source.

7. A duplex current discharge switching device for use with a powercircuit and a signal responsive device, said switching device comprisingmeans providing a wave transmission path for signals to said signalresponsive device, means providing a series current path transversely ofsaid wave transmission path in said switching device for said powercircuit, and means for initiating a current discharge in said switchingdevice for completing said series path and effectively interrupting saidsignal transmission path for isolating said signals from said signalresponsive device, and for alternately quenching said current dischargefor interrupting said series path and effectively completing said signaltransmission path.

8. A duplex current discharge switching device for use with a signalgenerator, a source of operating Ipotential for said generator, a signalsource and a signal responsive device responsive to said signal source,said switching device-comprising means providing a signal wavetransmission path for signals from said signal source to said signalresponsive device, means providing a series path transversely of saidwave transmission path in said switching device for operating potentialsfrom said potential source to said generator, and means for initiating acurrent discharge in said switching device for applying said operatingpotential to said generator and effectively interrupting said signalwave transmission path thereby isolating said signal source from saidsignal responsive device, and for alternately quenching said currentdischarge for removing said operating potential from said generator andeifctively completing said signal transmission pa 9. A duplex currentdischarge switching device for use with a power circuit and a signalresponsive device, said switching device comprising waveguide meansproviding a wave transmission path for signals to said signal responsivedevice, means comprising an electron discharge device disposed withinsaid waveguide and providing a series path transversely of said wavetransmission path through said switching device for said power circuit,and keying means operable upon said electron discharge device forinitiating a current discharge in said switching device for completingsaid series path and effectively interrupting said signal wavetransmission path for isolating said signals from said signal responsivedevice, and for alternately quenching said curf rent discharge forinterrupting said series path and effectively completing said signaltransmission path.

MARTIN R. RICHMOND.

